Fixture support



June 10, 1930. I J, KNIGHT 1,762,995

I FIXTURE SUPPORT Filied' March 16, 1925.

INVENTOR Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT OFFICE JULIAN GORDON KNIGHT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK FIXTURE SUPPORT Application filed March 16, 1925. Serial N'o.,.1 5,815.

The present invention relates to the supporting of electric light fixtures from outlet boxes. v

The present practice of supporting fix- 6 tures by means of a so-called fixture stud secured to thetop of the box is objectionable because of the fact that the stud projects down into the box, occupying considerable space and interfering more or less with the wiring.

The objects of this invention are. to provide an improved box construction and a support for the fixture which will not take up room within the box, thus leaving the interior of the box free for wiring and enabling the use of a shallow box construction; and to provide such a support in a simple, inexpensive and entirely practical form.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of thisspecification, the invention is illustrated embodied in two different forms, but I wish it understood that the structure may be further modified without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

' Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the box with the invention incorporated therein, illustrating a fixture pipe supported thereby.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the box top broken away at one side to show the box structure.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating the fixture support incorporated as an integral part of the box top.

The box 5 ma be of any usual or special construction an -is here shown as made up of two co nplementa box sections 6, 7 havingoverlapping en portions secured together by lugs 8 having reduced shanks 9 extending through registered openings in the overlapping ortions and headed over at the outside 0 the box wall as at 10. These lugs project at the inside of the box wall and are formed with screw seats 11 to receive the screws 12 for securing the cover or covers in place The screw lugs thus serve the double purpose of providin seats for the cover fastening screws an forming rivet fastenings for securing the box wall sections together. As shown particularly in Figure 2, abrupt shoulders 13 are provided at the back of the screw lug, at the rootcof the rivet shank, which shoulders abut the inner face of the box wall, forming in effect a head for the inner end of the rivet shank and at the same time a firm bearing for the screw lug against the side wall of the box. In addition to fastening the overlapping parts together the rivet shank by its passage through the two thicknesses of metal forms a reinforcement for the screw lug, strengthening and preventing bending of the same under an unusual strains. Another advantage 0 this construction is that the tensioning of the screws to secure the top firmly in placehasa tendency to bind the parts all the more firmly together.

The fixture support is in the form of a cup shaped socket 14 mounted on the top 15 of the box, open tothe interior of the box and having internal screw threads 16- to take the correspondingly threaded end of the hickey 17, insulating joint or the like, or even the threaded end of the fixture pipe 18 itself, in accordance with different requirements.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixture socket is made as a separate unit having an outstanding base flange 19 resting on the box top and lugs 20 partially severed therefrom extended down through openings 2] in the top and bent under against the inner face of the top at 22. In this form the box top has a centralopening 23 in line with thethreaded socket in the fixture supporting cup.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figure 3 differs from that just considered in that the fixture socket is formed as an integral part of the box top. In manufacturing this form of the invention the box top is usually operated on in a suitable punch or punches to produce the upwardly projecting hollow integral cup, after which it is only necessary to form the internal screw threads.

The special form of hickey shown in Figure 1 consists of a pipe section slotted longitudinally from one end of the same to provide wire receiving openings 24. To prevent the separated end portions 25 formed by the slots 24: from crowding together as the hickey is screwed into the socket, the top of the socket may be bulged downwardly as shown at 26 to act as a spreader for these parts. This produces an interlock between the hickey and the socket and prevents the hickey from becoming loosened by vibration and the like.

7 lVith this improved construction, practically the entire interior of the box is available for wiring purposes since the fixture support occupies no part of the box interior. This means that the same wiring accommodations may be provided in a box of shallower construction than in the old style box, employing a stud projecting down into the box for the suppport of the fixture. This construction also has many advantages in the way of greater simplicity and less expense.

In addition to giving more room for wiring, this box construction provides plenty of room for flush receptacles and the like and the socket while ready for use when desired, is out of the way and does not interfere with the full use of the interior of the box-in case the fixture supporting feature is not needed in some instances.

The top of the box is shown as substantially square to provide increased anchorage for the box and a more firm support for the fixture. This square top, it will be seen, forms a wider base, capable of supporting heavier fixtures and makes it easier to level.

the box in the concrete.

What is claimed is:

1. An outlet box having an opening in the top of the same for the passage of a fixture mounting member and a pressed metal hollow fixture support closed at its upper end and having abase secured to the top of the box in position with the closed hollow portion of the support in registry with the opening in the top, said hollows closed portion of the support projecting above the top of the box and being internally screw threaded to match the complementary screw threads on a fixture mounting member.

2. An outlet box having an opening in fixture support being secured in inverted supporting means to be passed up through the hole in the top of the box and engaged in said socket and be thereby supported without taking up wiring space within the box.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February, 1924:.

JULIAN GORDON KNIGHT. 

